Ellenborough Market Cafe
Tuck into a free-flow of Singaporean fare at the newly refurbished Ellenborough Market Cafe. Its draw would be an extensive array of local heritage dishes, ranging from the signature chili crab to Peranakan specialties like ayam buak keluak and babi pongteh, and traditional desserts such as durian pengat. Prices from $42 for High Tea (Sat, Sun and public holidays), $52 for lunch (Mon-Sun), $62 (Mon-Thu) and $68 (Fri-Sun, and eve and day of public holidays) for dinner.
The Peranakan
Nestled in a quiet wing of Orchard Hotel’s level 2 is The Peranakan, an old-school gem dishing traditional Nonya cuisine like buah kulauk ayam and pig trotter ponteh. There are three different menus: Tok Panjang ($45-65 per person), where signature items are presented in rattan baskets; Six-Course Degustation ($85 per person, minimum six), a fancier, fine-dining experience and The Chef’s Table ($188-288), which includes wine pairing and an omakase-style line-up.
Tok Panjang Cafe
Restaurant group the House of Peranakan, which owns establishments in East Coast, Frankel Avenue and Eng Hoon Street, has opened yet another traditional Nonya eatery in Katong. Tok Panjang Cafe features an all-day dining menu, with simple breakfast options such as mee siam ($7.90), a Peranakan-style nasi lemak set ($10.90) with ingredients such as assam pork and baby squid, and Bob’s pork bun ($8 for two), braised pork sandwiched in a Chinese bun. The dessert selection may be small, but it’s worth your time—-items like durian chendol ($6.50), gula melaka sago pudding ($4), ubi kayu ($6), pulot hitam ($3) and bubur terigu ($3) are affordable and indulgent options.
